'Toughest' job in government? Wheelock on what's next at DHS

With her deep government experience, Pam Wheelock was a natural choice to step in as acting commissioner at the Minnesota Department Human Services to try and stabilize the state’s largest agency after weeks of turmoil.

DFL Gov. Tim Walz tapped her for the job following the resignations this week of commissioner Tony Lourey and his chief of staff. Two other top officials in the department rescinded their resignations after Lourey left.

Pam Wheelock
Pam Wheelock tells MPR News she's trying to bring stability to the massive agency.
Courtesy of University of Minnesota

Wheelock told MPR News on Friday she’s focused on moving DHS forward and that there are no “smoking gun” issues to be probed in the wake of the resignations. She said she has “great respect” for Lourey.

Managing the massive agency is a “hard, tough job, maybe the toughest one” in government, she said.

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